David Rose- Magpie in Orange Tree

David Rose, Magpie in an Orange Branch

The Artist

Courtesy of the artist's own webpage: David George Rose was born in Melbourne in 1936, second of three children to George Linney Rose, a commercial artist and Abrey.  David was educated at the Melbourne Grammar School where he displayed an ability in and a love of art from an early age. Amongst his early inspirations was the artist, Paul Klee. Paul went onto study forestry at the National Forestry School in Canberra. It was here, at the annual School Ball, 1957, and the night of his 21st Birthday that he met his wife, Jennifer Mannigel. Within two years they had moved to Sydney together and by 1960 had married. Jenny became a teacher working with disadvantaged children and was able to support David as he took steps to become a full-time artist and print-maker. Part of the couple's income came by the production of prints and greetings cards under the label, Dajer. These were often delivered on the couple's Italian motor scooter.

From the income made from prints and greetings cards, David and Jenny were able to fund a passage to Spain in 1964 where David was able to to produce a series of lithographs that were published in Barcelona. The couple continued their travels and returned to Australia in 1965 where Rose took up a teaching position in the National Art School, Sydney.

As the Rose family grew, in the early 1970s, they moved to an old farmhouse at Ourimbah, New South Wales. There was a derelict fruit packing shed on the property which David quickly converted into his studio. This became his home and place of work for the next thirty years. The studio was capacious enough for the artist to etch, print and create ceramics. In 1978, rose was commissioned to produce a range of designs for Australian postage stamps.The first series featured four Australian trees- the Illawarra Flame, ghost Gum, Grass Tree and the Cootamundra Wattle.

During the 1980s, David continued teaching but at the City Art Institute, Sydney. At the same time, his print-making career was going exceptionally well. During this time, experimented further with ceramics encouraged by friends, John Kemty and Peter Rushforth (well known in the ceramics field). His print-making techniques and skills also provided Rose with international acclaim particuarly his works on the Australian natural environment. During a career that spanned half a century, David exhibited his works in forty-five exhibitions. His works are represented in the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of Western Australia,  the National Gallery of Victoria, the Queensland Art Gallery and internationally at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. David passed away in 2006.

The Work of Art

The Magpie and the Orange Branch is one of seven prints held in the University of Canberra Art Collection which spans Rose's print-making career. This lithograph print was created in 1978 and is edition 48 of 50.The print is nicely composed with the orange branch and the magpie sitting on the right-hand side. The small splash of colour is provided by a single orange fruit. Similar prints include 'Waratah' which was created in the same year.

David Rose's works show an interesting progression from abstract designs created in 1970 and 1971  to surrealist and then onto natural themes  in the early 1990s. It demonstrates too the depth and breadth of talent in this artist. All of these are represented in the Art Collection.

References:

David Rose, Biography: https://www.davidroseprintmaker.com/ viewed 16/04/2020

David Rose entry, the Encyclopedia of Australian Art by Alan & Susan McCulloch, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1994.